Hawai‘i's Ready Keiki to open 50 public pre-K classrooms, adding over 1,000 new seats
In a significant development for early childhood education in the US, Hawai'i has announced the next phase of its Ready Keiki initiative, which includes the opening of 50 new public pre-kindergarten classrooms across the state over the next two years.
The move is expected to add over 1,000 new preschool seats, bringing the total number of public pre-K seats in Hawai'i to more than 2,700 by August 2026.
The expansion was announced on June 18, 2025, by Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke at Kalihi Elementary School, alongside officials from the Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL), the Hawai'i Department of Education, and Ready Keiki partners. As reported by the Maui Now, Lt. Gov.
Luke emphasized the initiative's long-term goal of providing universal access to pre-K education in Hawai'i by 2032.
Major classroom expansion to serve diverse communities
Of the 50 classrooms planned, 25 are set to open for the 2025–2026 school year. According to the Maui Now, this expansion will serve approximately 1,000 children aged 3 and 4, with each classroom accommodating up to 20 students. The initiative prioritizes children from underserved communities, including those in foster care, experiencing homelessness, or from families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level.
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Special attention is also being given to dual-language learners and children eligible for special education services under IDEA.
The rollout emphasizes geographic and social equity. As reported by the Maui Now, 21 of the 25 new classrooms will open at Title I schools, and several will be located in rural communities across O'ahu and on neighbor islands. Two Hawaiian language immersion classrooms will open at Hana High & Elementary on Maui and Hau'ula Elementary on O'ahu, highlighting the state's commitment to cultural and linguistic preservation.
Strategic growth and cost-effective execution
The new phase marks a significant milestone, with the opening of EOEL's 100th classroom. Yuuko Arikawa-Cross, director of EOEL, called this expansion 'a transformative moment for early learning in Hawai'i' as quoted by the Maui Now. She noted that the program now includes 117 classrooms across 89 locations.
The state has managed this growth with notable fiscal discipline.
According to the Maui Now, classroom renovations were completed well below budget, averaging between $291,000 and $320,000 per site—substantially less than the projected $1 million per classroom.
New sites to launch across multiple islands
The 25 classrooms opening in August 2025 will be spread across Maui, Hawai'i Island, Kaua'i, and O'ahu. Notable additions include Kaumuali'i Elementary, which will bring public pre-K access to over half of Kaua'i's elementary campuses, and Barbers Point Elementary, which will house Kapolei's first public preschool classroom.
Applications for the EOEL Public Pre-Kindergarten Program are open and accepted on a rolling basis at earlylearning.ehawaii.gov. For more information, families can contact EOEL at (808) 784-5350.
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